Original subtitles

It's only 40 nautical miles from Hong Kong to Macau.

Just one hour by hovercraft

and you can reach Macau from Hong Kong...

or vice versa.

That's why on every weekend or holiday...

so many people go to Macau to entertain themselves;

and by "entertainment", we mean mainly gambling.

There's dog racing in Macay, as well as jai-alai,

not to mention the Lisboa, New Garden,

Ocean Palace and other casinos.

As it's entertainment,

it obviously costs money.

See?

Everyone's full of excitement upon departure,

but by the time they return to Hong Kong...

most of them hang their heads in dejection.

Not everyone is man enough...

to "meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same."

However many times they try and fail,

they still try and try again.

Gambling is like war, and so is love;

they give rise to all sorts of incredible events...

which, repeated often enough, are no longer news.

If you don't believe me, just watch on...

Let's go.

Darling

Go "dar-" yourself!

Hey, what's the matter?

Don't take it out on me because you lost money!

Serves you right for gamblin so much.

It's my money. It's none of your business.

Fine. From this day on,

you go your way, and I go mine.

Good thing I didn't marry you.

Give me back my Hong Kong re-entry permit.

How much?

Fifty.

No, Five hundred.

Oh? Five hundred?

Put down five hundred.

Ope". open!

Four, five, six, fifteen is large.

Large!

Open. open. open!

Three, four, six, thirteen is large.

Large!

Thank you!

Well?

Same arrangement.

I get two shares, you each get one.

Okay.

Okay.

Let's look at yours.

I'm a total novice at this.

I don't know anything.

Okay.

Ten thousand.

Ten thousand.

Ten thousand.

How do you play this?

Don't know how.

It's easier than dominoes. You compare numbers.

Tens and heads all count as ten.

Whoever has the higest number wins.

It's a five percent commission,

no commission if the player wins.

It's a draw if your numbers are equal.

Let's watch the next round.

You can't move your chips.

You can increase your bet but not decrease it.

Place it on a draw and it's $900 for a $100 bet.

So much?

Player wins.

Understood.

Player wins.

Player wins, seven.

Ope". open!

One, two, three, six is small.

Five hundred bucks, large.

Damn!

Open!

Four, five, six, fifteen.

Damn it!

Large.

Two places in Macau are famous for being ruins

and both are of historical interest.

One is the ruins of this edifice,

called the facade of St. Paul.

Catholicism's earliest foothold in the Far East,

it's the edifice of St. Paul's Church

built in 1637

and destroyed by fire in 1835.

Three years later what remained of the other walls...

were taken down, leaving behind what you see today.

The other ruin is called the "Ruined Devil's House".

It's said the place used to be deserted...

with only one western-style building.

The Chinese call foreigners "foreign devils",

and the houses where they lived "devil houses".

Ruined Devil House meant a run-down western building.

The legend goes that "Ruined Devil House"

was a place specializing in selling ruined goods.

Actually, the place had a more elegant name:

Orchid-Osmanthus House.

Osmanthus House was a second-hand clothes store...

selling outmoded clothes and antiques from pawn shops.

Orchid House was an antique store:

Zhou bronzes, Han jade, bricks from the Great Wall;

song green-pattern and Tang tricolor china;

calligraphy and paintings by past and present masters;

every rare collectable, whether Chinese or foreign,

could be found here.

Jiao Yi, the antique store proprietor,

is a merchant with the gift of the gab.

He may look like a gentleman on the surface,

but deep down, he's a dirty old man.

Despite being married to Ah Lan ("Orchid"),

a woman both beautiful and coquettish,

he still wasn't content.

Other men's wives are always more desirable.

He was set on seducing Osmanthus House's proprietress,

Ah Gui ("Osmanthus").

He's well aware that He Yen, owner of Osmanthus House,

has been flirting with his wife Ah Lan

for quite some time already.

What are they tapping?

Probably from the telegraph office.

It's Morse code.

Didn't you use to work at the telegraph office?

What are they saying?

They're talking about you.

Great ass, small waist, real hot!

Damn! Shameless!

Hey!

What are they saying now?

They say this bearded old gentleman looks like a goat.

What's he saying?

He's saying, young men,

I'm the head of the telegraph office.

Come again!

Ah Jiao, have a look at this jade mouth piece.

How fragrant and cool the jade is!

Let me take a look, quick!

Oh...

Let me try.

You...

It's true.

Let me try as well.

It really is true.

What jade mouth piece. Where did you get it?

I found it in an old clothes shop.

An old gentleman took a look at it...

and said it was a jade mouthpiece.

Put it in your mouth to absorb the jade essence:

it strengthens the blood and keeps you looking young;

the essence of the jade does that!

Old Jiao, you get some jade essence too.

Get away!

How could you?

How can you put this into your mouths?

It's a jade mouthpiece.

Of course you put it into your mouth.

Unfortunately it's not called a jade mouthpiece.

If it's not a jade mouthpiece,

then what is it?

It's called a jade plug.

Jade plug?

Where do you plug it?

In ancient times, when court ladies were buried,

they wanted to use the auspicious qualities of jade...

to preserve their beauty even after death.

So, they plugged it into their loins.

Loins?

That means their vaginas.

The place where babies come out!

I need some water too to rinse my mouth!

Madam Gui, I was just putting them on.

This isn't called a jade plug,

nor is it a jade mouthpiece. It's a substitute finger.

Substitute finger?

They were used instead of fingers for teaching.

Hold out your hand first, hold out your hand.

Shang da ren, kong yi ji...

In time it replaced the finger.

Two three miles by, a village of four five familes...

Old He.

L'm surprised you still remember your surname.

Your house is on fire!

What are you hanging around here for?

Women!

What about women?

What about women?

Such brute force!

Madam Lan, out for a bit of sun?

What are you talking about?

Sun yourself!

I mean you're sunning your laundry. Aren't you?

Well, you are sunning yourself too, aren't you?

Some people are born cuckolds.

With a spirited wife such as yourself,

Brother Jiads destined to be cuckolded.

You...

Never mind.

Not as old as Qianlong. At most it's Tongzhi era.

Not worth very much.

You have a word with him.

Hateful!

How so?

Bite your tongue!

You enjoy this, don't you?

Very well, this doesn't count.

I'll ask you a riddle.

If you win, I'll give you a dollar.

Okay, ask me.

Listen well.

Listening.

It looks like a dog, from afar and up close,

but hit him or scold him, it won't run away.

You have to drag it to make it move.

It's a thing. Can you guess what it is?

It looks like a dog, from afar and up close.

But if it's a dog, why doesn't it run away?

That's what's strange about it.

I'll tell you.

Hit him or scold him, it won't run away.

You have to drag it to make it move.

You have to drag it to make it move?

Ah.

Oh, I can't guess. I lose.

What is it?

You ad m it defeat?

I'll tell you then.

It's a dead dog.

Dead...

You're a dead man!

You don't think it's fair?

Fair my ass!

Okay, I'll ask you a riddle too.

If you can guess the answer, I'll give you a dollar,

but if you can't, I win a dollar from you.

Okay. Ask me.

Wah!

Ah. Wah!

That's it?

That's it. Now guess.

Wah, wah.

Can't guess what it is.

Can't guess?

Wah, poured a glass of tea.

Wah, poured a glass of tea?

A dollar to pour a glass of tea?

Now we don't owe each other anything.

One more round to see who's the winner.

Wah!

Wah?

How come it's "wah" again?

That's how simple it is. Wah!

Wah, wah.

I can't guess. I admit defeat.

You ad m it defeat?

Wah!

Silly boy, poured another glas of tea!

How many days will you be gone for?

It'll take three to five days.

Take care at home.

I know, I know. Stop nagging.

I've seen Old He from next door...

flirting with you all the time.

He's mentioned you to me several times.

Mentioned me? How?

He said you were nice, and good with people,

a great cook and a marvelous homemaker,

that you've got everything in the right place...

you're one of a kind.

It sounds more like you talking about his wife Ah Gui.

Really, I'm going to Hong Kong.

You be wary of him.

What do you take me for? You hateful man.

I'm just teasing you.

Do you think I don't know...

what kind of person you are?

Stop fussing!

Old He, I'm off to Hong Kong. Anything I can do?

Nothing, thank you.

How long will you be away for?

Three to five days...

to pick up some stock from Cat Street.

Come back soon!

Believe me.

You're talking rubbish.

It's true.

Ah Lan's been mentioning you to me,

going on about how tall you were,

how broad your shoulders,

and your heavy brows and large eyes...

it really gets her all worked up.

Really?

Why should I put you on?

I'm not going to be at home,

so don't start having any ideas!

What kind of person do you take me for?

Just joking. See you around.

See you.

How are things?

Did good business today?

Let me.

I came to see you tonight.

Why?

No reason in particular.

Ah Gui, I'm off to Old Chang's to play mahjong.

Go get some sleep. Don't wait up.

Come back early. Don't play all night.

Okay.

Who is it?

You...

Old Jiads gone to Hong Kong?

He's gone to Hong Kong.

What are you doing?

Let's go inside.

Go inside and we'll talk.

I want to ask you,

is it true?

What's true?

Are you always telling Old Jiao,

always complimenting me in front of him?

Saying how tall I am,

how broad my shoulders are. ls it true?

I never said anything like that.

I ask you,

do you always say how nice I am, how good with people,

that I have everything in the right place?

Who doesn't know that in Orchid-Osmanthus House?

Do I need to say it?

If you did,

then may your tongue rot!

You're always saying let my tongue rot.

This time I'll see whether it's your tongue that rots,

or mine.

What are you doing?

Come!

Come over!

What are you doing?

Don't! I'll cry out!

Then cry out!

- No... - Come...

What are you going to cry out?

I want...

Quick!

Come, quick!

You take it off too. Quick!

How do compare with Old Jiao?

You tell me!

I'm going to make my hand...

Me too...

I'm going to make my hand too...

Old Jiao, didn't you go to Hong Kong?

The boat was full. I couldn't get a ticket.

I forgot it's Sunday today.

So, Old He's not at home?

He went out to play mahjong.

Mahjong?

He's really gone to play mahjong?

You're too trusting of him.

I reckon he's got a bit on the side.

It'd be good if he did.

I've had enough.

You've had enough?

Enough of what?

It's none of your business.

It's okay to have had enough;

it's worse when you want some but can't get any.

Ah Lan!

Go. quick!

Ah Lan...

Coming!

Come on already!

Ah Lan!

Coming, coming.

Why did you take so long?

WhY aren't you gone?

I couldn't get a ticket.

No choice but to wait till tomorrow.

What's the matter?

What do you mean?

What are you doing?

How come there's a stranger's smell?

What stranger's smell?

No unless you brought it back yourself!

No tickets? Then why didn't you come back earlier?

Where have you been?

I went to have my fortune told.

I saw two rounds of mahjong.

What?

You went to a fortune teller?

Exactly.

There's an old Portuguese lady from Lisbon...

who uses a crystal ball

to tell your past, present and future.

I saw you inside that crystal ball.

You saw me?

You really kno how to joke!

It's no joke!

I saw you running up from downstairs...

with Old He following right behind.

What are you talking about?

I saw everything clearly.

Once through the door, the first thing you said was,

"What's wrong with you?

Give you an inch, and you take a foot!"

I didn't hear He's reply clearly,

but I heard you say rot his tongue,

and He took advantage of that;

he took you in his arms and out came his tongue.

You said, "l'm going to cry out,

rm Qfling to cry out!

No...

I want..."

Where were you?

I was in the lady fortune teller's house.

Then

I saw two rounds of two-handed mahjong.

How can just two people play mahjong?

They can on this bed.

Old He was as high as if he got a really great hand,

and so were you.

You're talking rubbish!

You're the one who's talking rubbish!

I'll be honest with you.

I knew long ago there was something between you two.

I never went to get a boat ticket.

And I'm telling you

I looked into the crystal ball right here.

I saw your game of mahjong right here.

You and Old He together

makes for a great hand of mahjong?

So with me it's a rotten hand, is it?

It doesn't matter even if it's a great hand,

but you shouldn't have said he was burning hot!

If he's burning hot, then am I cool down there?

And even if he's burning hot,

did you have to say I'm old and raw?

Could you forgive me just this once?

Forgive you just this once? Are you joking?

You're playing mahjong on my bed now;

in a coupl of days you'd be having a game of dominoes!

No.

So what if it's no?

He's already taken advantage of me.

What can you do to him?

If not going to do much to him.

He's pulled one over me,

so I'll pull one over him too.

He's played a great hand of mahjong with my wife,

I'll also play a great hand with his wife.

What do you mean?

He's given me a pair of cuckold's horns,

so I'll give him a pair as well.

Tomorrow, yes, tomorrow;

Tomorrow I'll pretend to go to Hong Kong.

You ask him over.

Once the two of you are in bed,

I'll come knocking on the door,

pretending to have left something at home.

Don't you let him run off!

Tell him to hide inside this trunk.

Then you ask his wife to come over.

After that, you find a nice cool place to hide,

and whatever game we play, even if it's roulette,

it's none of your concern.

That way

I'll have done him the same good turn he's done me,

and we'll both be even.

What's the matter with you?

You're shameless!

What? I'm shameless?

What does that make you, shameful?

It's burning hot!

I'm getting a great hand! Damn it!

Fine. If you say so, I'll do it.

Ah Lan...

Why is he back again?

He must have forgotten something.

Qucik, hide!

Ah Lan, open up!

Quick!

Who is it?

It's me!

What's the matter?

I'm telling you,

Our Old Jiao wants you to come over.

What's the matter?

He says

One good turn deserves another:

if you play one great hand of mahjong,

then that's hat I want to do as well.

He's been talking to himself.

You two chat for a while.

I'll go make some tea.

Why did you ask me over?

I'd like to discuss antiques with you.

You're joking.

We sell old clothes.

What do we know about antiques?

Of course you do!

Old clothes are antiques too.

As they say, "old clothes and new loves are best".

Why did you close the door?

A man and a woman alone together...

There are two men and one women here,

what are you afraid of?

Two men and one woman?

What's going on?

I'm telling the truth.

Your Mr He is here as well.

What?

Old He's here as well?

He said he was going to play mahjong.

It was mahjong alright.

No sooner had I left the front door...

he was inside my house...

for a game of two-person mahjong.

How can you play mahjong with just two people?

You can on this bed.

One round to you, one round to me,

one great hand to you,

another great hand to me.

You mean they did it on this bed?

That's right.

I'm not a man who picks quarrels with the world,

but your Mr He...

came over here to play an underhanded game.

You're saying Old He is in here?

You don't believe me? Very well.

Great! Old He!

You bastard!

No wonder you talk about playing mahjong all day.

You've been playing with that bitch!

Come, Old Jiao!

We'll play a few rounds right on top of this trunk.

Okay. You be the bank. Come on!

That's vey high for the first hand,

it's too rich for my blood.

This is called "Central Five".

Take your hand away.

My Madam Gui,

how does Old Jiao compare to Old He?

The older the ginger, the hotter it is.

That's right.

One Old Jiao in action is worth two of him!

Old Jiao, you're so great, Old Jiao...

You pair of beasts!

You shameless bastard!

Bitch!

This isn't "Ruined Devil's House",

nor is it "Orchid-Osmanthus House".

Actually, it's "Ruined Gui's House".

The only legal types of gambling in Hong Kong

consist of horse-racing and mahjong parlors.

Actually, over 70 gambling joints pose as "clubs"

and in terms of scale...

bear comparison with the Lisboa Casino in Macau.

There is only one difference:

it's all legal in Macau, but not so in Hong Kong.

In other words, it's illegal.

Hong Kong's finest are the world's most uncorrupt,

most impartial,

and most efficient police force.

Clearly, they won't allow illegality to go unchecked.

Once they get wind of any illegal gambling joint,

they will immediately go into action;

once in action, they'll get to the scene in no time;

once there, they'll disembark straight away;

once disembarked, they'll enter the premises;

once in the premises, they'll start investigating;

once they start investigating, they'll arrest people;

once they arrest people, they'll immediately...

immediately, everything becomes different.

The "club" becomes a real club.

All the gambling patrons and gear will have vanished

because the club gets word quicker than the police,

and they're more efficient than the police as well.

Club members all adhere strictly to club regulations:

Gambling is strictly prohibited among members.

Of course the 70-odd gambling joints in Hong Kong

can't all keep this up indefinitely.

That's why they take turns in rotation;

whichever club whose turn it is will be well-rehearsed

in fully co-operating with the police...

as is the civic duty of any law-abiding entity.

That's why the Hong Kong police's reputation...

for efficiency is not without its basis.

Okay»-

Big Brother, it's time to "wast the floor".

Understood. You don't have to tell me.

It's god damned game over.

Tell everyone to split.

Today it's our turn.

Every one of Hong Kong's 70-odd joints

have to take it in rotation. If you don't,

you wouldn't be giving face to the others.

Leave a few of our own people behind.

Tell Number Three to take charge.

Tell him not to worry in prison.

I'll take care of his family.

Okay»-

Don't move...

Hey, don't shove!

Sorry.

What rotten luck!

To meet with this sort of thing today.

Come here...

Relax.

How do you do this?

Quiet. Everybody stand up.

Sorry. 50"}!-

Even having her glare at me feels good.

Real hot!

Taking handprints one by one like this...

is going to take all night.

Quiet, quiet.

Quiet, quiet.

The look-out at this joint is pretty awful.

That's pretty uncommon.

I wonder how much the fine will be?

Fifty or a hundred bucks, it depends.

Cash?

Court appearance tomorrow.

If you don't show, the bail money's forfeit.

That's happened to me once already.

And you're proud of that?

For luck!

Just one slap will bring good fortune.

What a creep!

I'd like some luck too, just a feel...

You're all lecherous bastards.

We'll go in first.

It's been a long time, Mr He.

How's your bookie business doing?

So so.

Let's go inside.

Okay.

This goes straight to the 4th floor, staircase only.

The stairs here really kill you.

Doesn't this remind you of 007 entering some hideout?

As soon as the lookouts see something fishy,

a quick change of clothes, and everyone splits.

Let's hope we won't be unlucky twice in a row;

we've onlyjust had one rotten break.

Don't say such things.

Please. Please, gentlemen.

Open. open. open.

Three ones, banker takes all!

Have a good time.

Look.

He's...

His surname's Wang, Old Number Three Wang.

He's "customer relations" for the joint,

he brings patrons to the place.

We call him the "Ghost Usher".

Are you saying we're ghosts?

How inauspicious! Let's go over to Blackjack.

That woman's here.

At the domino table.

Who?

The one you said was really hot.

Let's go take a look.

Ope". open.

Well?

Five thousand stake,

two thousand five each.

Okay, we'll do it your way.

Don't let us down.

Watc h .

Move the pieces.

Grab the middle.

Hong Kong Bank building.

Kill it!

Watch the dice. Twenty-two.

Eight treasures.

Eight treasures takes eight treasures.

Damn! "One smile topples a city,

another smile topples the state."

A third smile and all my money will be gone too!

Just a small loss.

Shuffle the pieces.

Eight treasures loses eight treasures.

What an ill-fated hand!

It must be fated we'd get together.

Two thousand.

Bite it off in the middle.

Stagger.

Up and down.

Bridge on the River Kwai.

Wait.

Show.

You want it?

No.

Want it?

No.

Three big roads.

Three big roads make you shoot your load!

This time round

I don't think she's going to smile.

All bets are down...

Low bank, lateral, sixteen.

Kill it!

Watch the dice.

Over!...

Big Four companies' ships come in.

Hold it. Bank.

She's real hot! I wouldn't mind losing to her.

What do your friends do?

They doesn't do much,

but you might also say he does everything.

They have a trading company,

but it doesn't do much business.

What it really does is illegal book-making:

horse-racing, dog-racing.

They likes to gamble themselves.

Every sort of gambling, and they're good at it all.

Where do they get the money?

Mr He's from a rich family.

His father owns a transport company.

Mr Kang's family is in the gold business.

Oh, no wonder.

What's up?

We have a new girl who's just started.

What are you thinking about?

Nothing.

I was thinking of the girl at the club just now.

Strange.

What's so strange?

A woman of substance would go to a gambling joint,

but a woman of no substance...

wouldn't have the means to play so big.

You're talking about Carrie?

Carrie?

That's right.

Carrie's the mistress of some big shot.

This big shot got some standing in the community,

but he's involved in all sorts of dirty deeds:

smuggling, drugs, you name it.

He's feeling the heat, so he went abroad for a while.

As for his wife, she's insatiable,

and notorious for going with good-looking men:

singers, actors, foreign piano players...

Famous ones she's had three hundred and sixty,

and unknown ones she's had six hundred and thirty.

This mistress now, she likes gambling:

horses, dogs, illegal joints,

casinos in Macau... you see her almost every day.

But she's gamles badly, and loses most of the time.

Who says we lost?

Didn't win it real big today?

We were talking about the girl just now.

Right! That girl's real hot!

Fair as peaches, cold as ice...

I don't think it'd be so easy.

What are you talking about?

What wouldn't be so easy?

Don't you think I know

what's going on inside your head?

I reckon this woman's such a hardcore gambler,

except for gambling,

she wouldn't be interested in much else.

That would depend on the object of her interest.

If it's our handsome Prince Charming here,

I reckon it'd just take him half a month.

Well? Let's wager five thousand on it then.

If he can't get her in half a month,

I lose five thousand.

I'd love to wager with you,

but if our male lead isn't interested,

there's nothing to wager on.

Well? Let's wager five thousand on it then.

Quit fooling.

She's the mistress of some big shot.

So? You've had your fair share

even when it comes to proper society wives.

What does one little mistress matter?

No way. Half a month's too quick.

She looks all prim and proper,

I say it's definitely possible.

The more prim and proper they look on the surface,

the more questionable they are underneath.

Do you know that song by Bai Guang?

What song?

"False decency, false decency,

Why pretend to be so decent?

If you want to look, then look,

Take a close and? Look.

Don't put up such a front,

Don't put up such a front.

Why pretend to be so decent?

False decency, false decency,

Why pretend to be so decent?"

I don't think so.

Half a month?

Half a year's more like it.

It's not so easy when it's the man pursuing the woman.

It's not so easy only when the man is you.

When it comes to our Mr He here,

it'd be a piece of cake.

Well?

You give the nod, we'll make our wager.

Inside half a month, I win five thousand.

If it's over half a month,

Kang Li wins five thousand.

Whoever wins buys dinner.

Okay, we'll be witnesses.

Whoever buys dinner, we'll be there.

Whoever wins, we'll be there, rain or shine.

Right.

Well?

You give the nod, we make the wager.

Well?

Okay, I'll try.

Great!

We'll start counting tomorrow.

Inside half a month, I win.

Outside of 15 days, you lose.

Okay.

Don't renege now.

Don't worry.

She's unhappy even when she wins.

Just like that demoness in "The Water Margin",

Madam Sun.

Come on.

Let's go inside.

It's not that I'm not keeping my word,

but we should start counting from today.

The last two days shouldn't count.

Why?

We didn't see her at all these last two days,

why should they count?

Okay, have it your way.

Look at him.

It looks like you're going to lose your five thousand.

I don't think so.

Fifteen days isn't a short time.

360 hours.

Even the most chaste woman yields to persistence.

Come on, let's talk about today.

Same old rules.

He Da puts up five thousand,

the two of us puts up two thousand five each.

Bank.

Bank.

Three sides, eight.

Eight.

Isee nine.

Nine...

Nine... nine.

Nine...

Nine...

Nine, I win, I win!

Well, the bank wins, right?

Are they in this together or what?

Just lucky.

I don't think they're in it together at all.

Ten thousand.

Cheap but good quality.

Can't even pay a compliment right.

Bank three times, player once.

It was the bank twice already,

and it's the bank this round too.

Player.

A mere ten can lose you your stake.

Three sides.

Nine...

Ten, a pair.

A match made in heaven,

a pair together on earth.

Your call turned good cards bad.

Why keep on saying 999?

Sorry.

Don't laugh, don't laugh.

Winning hand! Three kings win!

It's a d raw.

Useless, totally useless!

That's not how you get on her good side.

Amicability leds to fortune, as they say.

Bet...

Bank wins.

Another win!

What shall we bet on this time?

Bank won just now.

Put it on player this time.

Okay, okay.

HaYer!

Bank!

Player wins.

Another win!

Bank!

HaYer!

Bank wins.

Another win!

Cash.

Great!

Come, have a "good fortune" smoke.

Red is auspicious.

Little Sun.

He Da.

Well? You won money?

That's the whole point of coming to Macau.

Let me make the introductions.

Kang Li.

How do you do.

Wei Hao.

How do you do.

Little Sun, the mobile bank around here.

Mobile bank?

There are two mobile banks here.

One is Mr and Mrs Wang.

If you lose, you can trade cheques with them:

it's $500 interest on every $10,000.

Of course, it's only for people they know.

He other bank is Little Sun here:

watches, rings, he'll give cash for anything

at the same rate of interest.

You talk like I'm a pawn shop.

A glass of Coke.

We're all friends here,

just helping each other out.

That's right.

Do you know the girl called Carrie?

You mean Carrie Ho?

Her surname's Ho?

Don't you even know what her surname is?

How are you going to move on her?

Who says I'm making a move?

I was just asking.

This Miss Ho gambles hard,

and decently, too;

too bad she's not particularly skillful.

Everytime she comes, she loses everything.

She's always fighting the cards:

if they come east, she'll go west;

if it comes up dogs she'll go for chickens.

She doesn't know when to hold or fold -

she makes all the worst mistakes a gambler can make.

Great...

I'm not bragging here,

whether she calls herself Carrie Ho

or Ho, Carrie,

as long as she partners with me

she'll never lose at gambling,

and won't have to borrow money from you.

Oh, what makes you so confident?

Please have a seat.

It really is cheap but good quality.

Light Miss Ho's cigarette.

There's no need to say how beautiful the lady is.

You're too kind.

You've won a lot, Mr He?

How do you know my surname's He?

That's strange.

You're allowed to know I'm called Carrie Ho,

but I'm not allowed to know your name's He Da?

That's right.

This is what's called heroes love beauties,

and good women love good men.

Mr Wei talks like a storyteller.

No end of clever phrases.

Miss Ho is very astute.

My father used to be a comedian in Shanghai.

You're full of bullshit.

Don't listen to him.

Your father used to pull a rickshaw in Shanghai.

Everyone knows that.

What's the matter? Looking for me?

Yes. I'm not having my lick.

Just got fifteen thousand from Mrs Wang,

it's not so good if I ask her again.

This should be worth fifteen thousand?

I'll take ten thousand for it.

Great, I'll go get it.

No need, I have it here.

Miss Ho, how about we be partners?

You put up ten thousand, I put up ten thousand.

I like to call the cards.

That's why I don't partner with people.

Of course you'll be calling the cards.

You'll be the commander, I'll be your tactician.

Don't bet on evey round. Play it cool.

You want to be steady, sharp, and vicious.

Okay.

Nonsense. I trust you with the sum.

What are you doing?

You want to be a third wheel?

I'm... I'm going to offer her a light.

Offer a light? She's almost cooked already!

Let's stay here and watch that fiery pussycat!

Bank gets nine, bank wins.

Eight.

Bank has nine, bank wins.

We'll split sixty-forty.

You take sixty, I'll take forty.

We'll split it the way we chipped in,

fiftey thousand each.

I've won again.

Red is for good fortune.

When are you going?

As soon as tomorrow's dog racing is over.

I'm going back on the boat tonight.

Tomorrow's Sunday.

My rich family's old man is coming.

We'll meet on Tuesday.

Sure.

I'll take the 2:30 Far East boat on Tuesday.

There'll be enough time. We'll come on the same boat.

This...

Yours, and the Chinese's.

You much, much good to us Japanese!

"After today's parting,

When are you returning again?"

Come, we'll be along soon.

Come.

Thank you.

Remember: you'll always lose if you gamble too often.

That's the real gambler's secret.

I'm not a real gambler.

I'm in it for the thrills.

The excitement of winning is one kind of thrill,

and even defeat is another kind of thrill.

That's the psychology of the usual gambler.

When I say "usual" gambler,

I mean someone who's not a professional.

The professional gambler always keeps his cool.

Win or lose, he betrays no emotion.

For him, there's no such thing as "thrill".

The gamble on the basis of skill and experience.

Thrills make you impulsive,

and that detracts from your skill.

You're prone to impulsiveness;

that's why you need someone beside you to remind you.

You mean I still haven't passed my driving test yet,

so I always need an instuctor by my side?

Of course you need luck too.

If luck doesn't come your way,

it wouldn't matter if 8 instructors sat beside you.

Then you're contradicting yourself.

Didn't you say it's all down to skill and experience?

Skill and experience let you grab hold of luck.

When luck comes your way, bet big.

When luck doesn't come,

just fold your arms and watch,

but don't even place a small bet.

Right.

Let's drink to our gambling.

Cheers.

What?

Can't you see? They drank up together.

Fork over the money.

It doesn't count until they do the business.

Here we are.

Would you like to come in and sit for a while?

Thanks, but no. You have some rest.

We need to have energy to win big tomorrow.

See you tomorrow then.

See you tomorrow.

Strange.

He let the cooked goose fly away!

I'd really like to ask him...

why he let such a great opportunity slip by!

The emperor's in no hurry. Should the eunuch be?

Old Kang, five thousand bucks!

Who is it?

It's me.

Still up so late?

May I come in?

Please do.

Tis a great joy to have a friend come from downstairs.

Are you alone?

No girlfriend?

For me, it's always lucky at cards,

unlucky in love.

Well? It looks like...

I got my license.

You got your license? What license?

Bacarrat license.

I didn't swallow what you said.

What did I say?

That I'd have to have an instructor beside me.

So I went to the tables with ten thousand dollars...

and won eighteen thousand in two hours.

Marvelous! We should drink to that. Come.

They're taking a bath!

So soon?

Cheers.

Fork it over.

Why?

Didn't you hear Old He say cheers?

Cheers to what?

What do you think, stupid?

I can't take anymore.

It's really something.

You're really something.

Once more.

No, no! Spare me!

Come on, once more.

No, no!

The 3 of us have all been saying how great you were.

Those two wanted me to get close to you.

That's why I looked for you in casinos every night,

but never managed to bump into you

until last time at this place...

You're getting bolder and bolder.

I never thought you'd be so shameless.

You told them you were pursuing me?

I'm the representative in our Gang of Three.

If a man isn't shameless,

he'll never get himself any girlfriends.

Lustful cowards are afraid of being bitten.

You need to be bold, but attentive too.

If you're not attentive, you'll get nowhere.

I'm a woman who apart from gambling...

isn't interested in anything else.

I'm no longer seventeen or eighteen;

should I still have illusions about being in love?

Maybe.

I know your sugar daddy's gone to Europe,

supposedly to look after his business interests,

but in reality, he's obviously doing the rounds...

of places where he can indulge in his pleasures.

What you really are is bored:

that's why you need to gamble to stimulate yourself.

The world has lots of other stimulating things;

I can't believe you're not interested in any of them.

You're really overstepping yourself more and more.

Gentlemen use words, villains resort to violence.

We never said anything about...

what we can talk about, and what we can't.

I'm even allowed to say,

Carrie, I love you.

I may be I can't say,

Carrie, you must love me,

because that would be an order, wouldn't it?

That's why I'm not overstepping myself.

Please take back what you've just said.

And if I don't?

Then I'll have to be a villain.

A villain resorts to violence, right?

I'm going to hit you.

I don't believe that...

in Hong Kong there are still people who hit women.

This is Macau.

If you don't believe it, just try it.

Very well. For the sake of remaining a gentleman,

I'll resort to using my mouth.

This is called not succeeding, but still trying.

This is called still trying, but not succeeding.

Excellent! Steady, sharp!

I'm teaching you a lesson here.

So, it's you two!

Five thousand.

You were absolutely right.

I used to gamble because I was lonely,

but now I want to quit.

I've heard a lot of gamblers say the same thing.

Some have even chopped off a finger to show resolve.

But what use is that?

The next day they're bandaged up and gambling again.

I'm different. If I go on gambling,

no one will be able to afford me.

What's the matter? Your sugar daddy...

I've decided to leave him.

He's already agreed.

He promised to give me US$100,000.

I've agreed to it too.

I think if we both cut a few corners,

the sum would be enough for us.

Us?

If not "us", should it be "them"?

You mean it?

Who's joking with you?

Go back and find a flat right away.

That's great. The prodigal returns.

Well?

Is the rent expensive?

Not really. Two thousand four hundred per month.

Two months' deposit, one month in advance.

A friend got it for me.

You're really lucky to get a place like this.

Your luck rubbed off. You bring good luck to your men.

No need. Kowtow!

Annoying!

What's this for?

You installed it?

Good thing I asked the realtor yesterday,

otherwise I wouldn't know how to answer.

I know, it's for exercising.

Well, it is related to the body,

but it's not for exercising.

It's related to the body

but not used for exercising?

You're making it up!

It's true, believe it or not.

Actually, you have to believe it,

because it's something that really happened,

and it happened to the owners of this flat.

Okay. I'll listen to your story synopsis

and see how good a scriptwriter you are.

Was it the male or female owner who had the problem?

To begin with, it was the male owner,

but then the wife went along with the husband.

Later, after the man died,

the woman got a stand-in to enact the sequel.

In some ways it was a grand finale,

but in other ways it was also a coda.

That's a really convoluted prologue.

Just make it simple.

It was like this:

the owner of the flat ran a few fabric factories;

we'll call him Mr Sha.

This Mr Sha was worth many tens of millions,

but his one regret was that he had no children.

Maybe it was because when he was young

he indulged himself too much.

After his wife died, he found another,

a woman more than twenty years younger than him.

But money couldn't buy him offspring,

so for the sake of having children...

he put himself on a daily regimen of medicine,

but to no avail.

To improve his physical condition,

and in the hopes of fathering the next generation,

Mr Sha practised Tai Chi and Qigong everyday,

thinking it would restore him to youthfulness

and satisfy Mrs ha in the bedroom.

But Mrs Sha...

was in the animalistic prime of her years,

and unfortunately Mr sha was no animal tamer.

You've been droning on for ages;

cut to the chase, will you?

What has this got to do with the chains in the room?

This Mr Sha visits Europe 2 or 3 times a year,

ostensibly for business purposes,

but really for an ulterior motive.

He liked the red light districts in Paris and Hamburg.

How much is it going to cost, baby?

How much?

Twenty.

How much?

Twenty.

Okay.

Okay.

So...it will cost you.

Hi.

Come on. Pay.

More.

What do you want?

Or these...

Come on.

Chinese kung fu!

The longer you live, the weirder things get!

It's not so weird after all.

As a matter of fact, in Europe

this sort of thing is ancient history.

It's nothing to write home about at all.

When Mr Sha returned

he passed on all this kung fu to Mrs Sha.

Or rather, it wasn't passing on kung fu:

Mr sha became Mrs Sha's slave.

Slave?

Slave.

In sado-masohism, the sadist

refers to the masochist as the slave.

T's just husband and wife having a fight;

how come it sounds like they're fighting with robbers?

They've been at it since last night.

At the Old Master's age,

how can he possibly take it?

It's not like he's being forced into it.

One likes to beat, and the other likes to be beaten.

I know how the rest goes.

Clearly Mrs Sha beat Mr Sha to death.

It would have been great if she did.

That would have suited her purpose nicely.

But surprisingly, the more he was beaten,

the tougher the old boy became.

If he got tougher,

shouldn't that have satisfied Mrs Sha?

Satisfy her how?

It's like a old car:

noises come out of places that shouldn't make noise,

but the horn that should honk makes no noise at all!

So what happened?

What do you think happened?

All Mrs Sha could do was sigh wistfully.

Then one day, when it was Mr Sha's 85th birthday,

the couple were being driven to the party.

The car ran off a cliff.

Mr Sha left the world on the anniversary of his birth,

and even the chaffeur departed this life with him.

As for Mrs Sha, she survived,

but was left a cripple.

Okay, at this point my story

has come to the end of the Prologue.

What follows is Act l.

Sir.

Madam would like to invite you to dinner.

Very well.

Please.

Mr Feng, please come in.

Tea.

Yes.

Feng Kai.

Mrs Sha.

Have a seat, Mr Feng.

Have a seat.

Mr Feng is not only a great person

and tennis player, but he can hold his drink too.

You're too kind, Mrs Sha.

It's been almost a month.

From the terrace I've watched you run every morning

and teach tennis to your students every afternoon.

You're physique is really admirable.

I'm not one to dwell on irrelevant pleasantries

which I consider a waste of time.

Mr Feng,

or perhaps I should directly call you Feng Kai?

How old would you say I am?

Perhaps thirty-one, thirty-two?

You flatter me.

I'll tell you the truth.

I was born in the Year of the Snake. I'm 47 this year.

How can that be? I'm a snake too,

and I'm only 23 this year.

You're a little snake.

I'm your senior by two cycles.

Really? I wouldn't have known.

It's all thanks to the doctors.

But doctors can only restore my youth on the surface,

but what I need isn't something superficial,

but very real and substantial.

In reality, I feel very empty.

Empty-

Only someone who's known emptiness

can understand how hard to bear it is.

Before my husband died,

I had money and social status.

If I wanted stars, he wouldn't have given me the moon.

But what good was that?

He couldn't fulfil me.

Ever try playing tennis?

I feel empty too,

but once I'm on the tennis court, I forget everything.

Silly boy. I do want to play tennis with you,

but not on the tennis court.

I want to play at home.

At home?

Ping pong might be possible.

Then let's call it ping pong.

Without a ball.

How can it be ping pong without a ball?

Silly bOY-

It's getting late. I should go.

What's the rush?

Didn't I tell you just now

I have a job for you?

The pay is beyond what you can imagine.

I don't care much about the pay;

what kind of work do you want me to do?

You know,

my husband left me tens of millions,

but I have no family, no children.

My only wish...

is to be happy for the remainder of my days,

the sort of happiness my husband couldn't give.

Yourjob is to make me happy.

I want your youth,

your energy-

The payment that I offer

is my entire fortune.

Don't worry.

You won't have to work for me for too many years.

In the car crash,

my spine was seriously injured.

The doctors tell me

I have only a year to live.

No! It doesn't look that bad!

A lot of things aren't always obvious...

from mere appearances.

Well?

It's a good thing to help others.

If you're willing to help me,

then we'll make a promise right here.

Tomorrow we'll have lawyers draw up my will.

It's really just a year?

Possibly even less.

And so, Feng Kai gave up tennis...

and gave up running,

and spent all his time keeping Mrs sha company.

He served Mrs Sha body and soul,

always looking forward to the day of her death...

when he would inherit all her wealth.

But eight months passed,

and Mrs Sha's condition improved day by day.

Why?

Didn't you say she had less than a year to live?

What? Less than a year?

That's right.

Mrs Sha told me herself.

That may have been th ecase before,

but her condition has been improving lately.

Every time I examine her...

I feel astounded myself.

She's like a withered tree...

that's getting the required sunshine

and necessary moisture;

she's thriving again.

She might even blossom and bear fruit!

Blossom and bear fruit?

You're saying her life expectancy...

Might even be longer than yours.

Every time I see you,

I feel you're going from bad to worse.

Your body's getting weaker and weaker.

Of course it it!

I've become her sunshine and moisture!

One year?

Don't tell me she gains one year, and I lose one year!

This guy's so hard-hearted?

He's giving up the inheritance just like that?

Of course he doesn't want to give it up.

He went to the police...

and said the wheelchair slipped of its own accordance.

Because he couldn't swim...

all he could do was call the cops.

The police investigated,

and found that Feng Kai was known for his honesty.

All the servants agreed...

that he always bent over backwards to please Mrs Sha,

and that he'd never murder her.

So he got away scott free.

But before he could lay his hands on the money,

he got a phonecall from a Mrs Mai.

Mrs Mai?

Where did this Mrs Mai come from?

She was a good friend of Mrs Sha.

Her husband also died with Mr Sha...

in the same car crash,

and she was crippled along with Mrs Sha.

It was a multiple car crash.

What did she phone Feng Kai about?

She called to invite Feng Kai to her house for dinner.

It was to celebrate Feng Kai being found innocent,

and also because she had something to show him.

This way please.

Please have a seat.

Mr Feng?

Mrs Mai.

Please have a seat.

Have a seat.

Mr Feng Kai,

allow me to introduce myself.

My name's Judy,

but my nickname's Xiao Mi.

Have a seat.

I'm the widow of r Mai who passed away.

It was really unfortunate.

I heard Mr Mai and Mr Sha...

passed away in the same car crash?

That's right.

Their car was in front...

and ours was behind.

We couldn't stop in time when they emergency-braked,

and so one after the other...

our cars went down the side of the mountain.

Your tea, sir.

Thank you.

Mr Feng,

would you like an aperitif?

No thank you, tea is fine.

It quenches thirst and increases appetite.

Mr Feng's not only a great tennis player,

but also has a way with words.

I've been watching you play tennis a lot.

You know a lot of women like watching tennis.

That's why every one of your matches...

has been recorded by me.

Recorded?

Yes.

I like making "little movies".

Little movies?

Don't get the wrong idea!

I don't mean "little movies" as in pornography;

I'm talking about 8mm home movies.

I've filmed you running,

I've filmed you playing tennis,

and now it's even more convenient.

There this new sort of video tape recorder...

which you can play back on right after you shoot it.

I told you over the phone...

that I had something to show you.

This is it.

This tape is a copy.

The original and my will are with my lawyer.

I have no children, no one to lean on.

I'm no spring chicken, of course,

but I'm not really that old, either.

You're an intelligent man.

You know what you need to do.

Darling!

Look.

Mrs Mai, what is your pleasure?

Don't be soformal with me.

If I call you darling,

you should call me Xiao Mi.

Xiao Mi.

Darling.

Xiao Mi.

Good, beautiful Xiao Mi.

Xiao Mi's really beautiful.

I really like this ending.

You're looking at it as if it's a story.

It's something that really happened, to real people.

Real or made up, what's the difference?

You could say "All the world's a stage",

or equally, "art imitates life".

That's not bad.

Our story should have an ending too;

or should I say, our situation should have closure?

You have the money?

It doesn't matter whether it's an ending or closure.

I have something to show you.

The last few times I went to him,

he used the depressed stock market as an excuse.

The capital doesn't matter,

but the banks' interest rate keeps going up.

Finally he couldn't put it off any more,

so he gave me this title deed.

The house is in North Point.

Two units per floor over eight floors.

Mortgaged to the bank for $400,000,

but worth more than his promised US$100,000.

I was thinking, if we raise the money to redeem it,

the rent from it would be enough for our upkeep.

As long as you quit gambling.

It's been such a long time now,

when have I been gambling?

If I rip my heart out, would you believe me?

Okay.

You said raise some money, how?

I have $100,000 in the bank.

If I sell my jewellery,

that'd be worth a bit over $100,000.

Why sell your jewellery?

I'll raise the other $300,000.

I have about 70 or 80 thousand to spare,

and Kang and wei will loan me another $100,000.

As for the rest,

I can borrow it from my father.

It's for a proper purpose, so he won't refuse.

Great. Then that's what we'll do.

Once we have the money

we'll go to the bank to pay off the mortgage.

You go up first. I'll park the car.

Be careful with the money in your purse.

I know. Hurry up, I'll wait for you.

Where's the mortgages deparment?

Upstairs.

Has a woman called Carrie Ho been here?

No.

Ah Si, Ah Si?

Yes?

Where's Madam?

Didn't you take her to Singapore?

I took her?

That's right.

She said you were waiting downstairs in the car.

I took her?

Player wins.

The moral of this tale is

unluckiness in love

doesn't necessary mean good luck at the tables.

See it?

There's something going on behind the scenes.

Something going on?

The gambling joint closed long ago.

Nothing going on? Take a look.

Look at what? As if you're not coming back next time.

The moral of this tale is:

there are two kinds of women in this world:

those who want money from men,

and those who don't want money, but your life.

Darling!

Xiao Mi!

Help!